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                                    FOE THE YEi-E 1917.
               ■Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia, Brigadier-General Brownlow, C.M.G.,
            tho                                                                            1
            - r V Mr. E. B. Howell, C.I.E., Deputy Civil Commissioner, Basrah, Monsieur
            ^ouxi* Consul de Frauco and other Naval and Military officers on their respeo-
            tlV° Hifl Britannic Majesty’s Acting Consul, the European residents of Moham-
             orah, and tho local officials were present at the Durbar.
            10 n'he guard consisting of one Non-Commissioned Officer and six sepoys is still
                                          provided by the Military authorities at
                     Coniulrur Kacort.
                                          Basrah. The Guard is relieved every
            month by another detachment.
                The Department worked smoothly under Monsieur Van den Abeele, who
                        Custom*           was in charge throughout the year.
                The Department worked satisfactorily during the year. His Excellency
                                          the Shaikh has tentatively agreed to pro*
                         Post*.
                                          vide funds for building an extra storey
             above the ground floor room now occupied by the Post Office,   This work will
             shortly be taken in hand by the Executive Engineer, Basrah.
                In August a notice was received from the Director of Postal Services,
             Basrah, to the effect that the parcel and V. P. Post was suspended until further
             notice, the reason for this being that it was habitually and grossly abused
             by merchants. The question, however, of permitting resumption has been
             taken up by the Civil Commissioner.
                Sir William Maxwell, Director General of Posts and Telegraphs in India,
             vtited Mohammerah and inspected the Post Office during the year.
                The telegraph line between Mohammerah, Ahwaz, Shushtar, Dizful and
                                           Behhehan was not in any way interfered
                       Telegraph*.
                                           with during the year.
                                           The Anglo-Persian Oil Comnany, Limited,
                      British Interest*.
                                         carried on their work during the year.
                The new 10" pipe line was completed in January 1917, and has since
             been, working satisfactorily.
                 A fire occurred at the Pumping Station at Tembi in July. The new
             putnpiug station, erected at the same time as the 10" line was being laid,
             was not damaged and the Company have been able to deliver to Abadan all
             the Crude Oil with which the Refinery can deal at present.
                 For bravery displayed by Mr. R. L. Lindsay, Senior Engineer, and his
             assistant, Mr. J. Still, in averting a far more serious catastrophe, the “ Albert
             medal in Gold” has been awarded to the former, and the same medal in bronze
             to the latter. Mr. Lindsay unfortunately lost liis life.
                 Extensions are still in progress, but work has been delayed to some extent
                                            owing to the difficulty of present con­
                      Abadan Refiner j.
                                            ditions and to the loss at sea of certain
              plant on its way out to Abadan. Further extensions are to be taken in hand..
                 A dry Dock was built by this Company at Mohammerah at a cost of
                  strick Scott „d campon,, Limits.   £4,000.'Tbis Dock has been well employed
                                            during the past 12 months, 19 of the
              small <% Fly ” Gun-boats were docked for the Admiralty during the period.
              Other private-owned river craft have also been attended to in the Dock.
                 Strict Scott and Company have lately taken in hand the construction of
              a bridge across the canal at Marid. This will facilitate road conimunications
              between Mohatnmerah and Ahwaz. The bridge is designed to carry five to
              seven tons.
                 The re-erection of the India Office River Craft was taken over from
              Messrs. Strick Scott and Company by the Inland Water Transport, which
              department has just completed its work at Mohammerah. The= Yard has now
                              raateiial has been shipped to Basrah, Messrs. Lynch Bro-
                   Limited, continued their business. The mails to Basrah are carried in
                eir daily passenger launch which runs between Basrah and Mohammerah.
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